Using Vacation Wi-Fi To Teach Kids About Security

On a recent trip to the Finnish Archipelago, F-Secure security advisor Sean Sullivan scanned the public Wi-Fi networks to see what he’d come across. On the boat that cruised through the largest island group in the world, he found 390 devices. At the hotel, another 129.

“There were a ton of iPads and a ton of kids using public Wi-Fi,” he told me. “I’m pretty sure every other device on that Wi-Fi can see your device. I could scan any one of those devices to see if they had an vulnerabilities I could exploit, if I wanted.”

Most public Wi-Fi is not configured with your security in mind, even if it requires a password to join.

“A password is just one layer of security that keeps random passerbys from hopping on the network,” he said. “You still need to trust 389 other guests.”

That doesn’t mean you should ignore the security issues. To Sean, the lure of public Wi-Fi on vacation presents a teachable moment.

“Personally, I think it’s a chance to do some good digital parenting by explaining that you’ll have important information on your device one day so you should get used to securing it.”

Since the whole point of a family vacation is to spend time together, you can use that time to make a point that will benefit them for years.

“Summer is a great opportunity to teach your kids that there are such things as trusted and untrusted networks,” he said. “If the network you’re on isn’t run by you or your loved ones, you can’t presume anything about the security of the network. So you should definitely run a VPN if you are transmitting any private information.”

And it’s not just Sean’s opinion that you should be using network protection like F-Secure’s FREEDOME VPN, which is available along with our award-winning Internet Security in F-Secure TOTAL.

“Very often in the terms and conditions of public Wi-Fi, there is a recommendation to run your VPN and/or antivirus,” he said. “A ‘fun’ activity for kids is to ask them to read the terms and conditions of the Wi-Fi and search for the word ‘security’ to see what the network recommends.”

A VPN with virtual locations like FREEDOME also gives you a familiar node on the internet to access streaming content that won’t activate anti-fraud algorithms. So you can watch cartoons in your native language or check into your Gmail without your accounts freaking out and demanding information you may not have in your wallet or suitcase.

But even if you don’t want to take the extra step to secure your browsing data, you can still use this opportunity to let your child know that not all Wi-Fi networks they connect to are as secure as the one they enjoy at home.